The latest Covid travel update is in, detailing which countries have moved to the red, amber and green lists. Changes will come into effect from 04:00 BST on Sunday 8 August.
Widespread changes to the traffic light system include France moving from amber-plus to amber. This means that after Sunday, fully vaccinated travellers returning to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will not have to quarantine anymore. This comes after previous concerns over the Covid Beta variant, which scientists believe is possibly more vaccine resistant.
Countries moving from the red list to amber include Bahrain, India, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
However, it is bad news for thousands of travellers in Mexico, which is now considered one of the highest risk countries, as it is moving to red.
Meanwhile, contrary to speculation, there is no change for Spain, which will stay on the amber list. This means fully vaccinated travellers can still enjoy a quarantine-free return.
The Department for Transport advises that arrivals from Spain and its islands take a PCR test before departing, rather than a lateral flow test. However, PCR tests are criticised for being more expensive, and an “unnecessary rip-off” that presents a “barrier to affordable travel”.
On a positive note, seven more nations are joining the green list, including Austria, Germany, Norway and Romania, bringing the total up to 36. All people returning from these countries will not need to quarantine.
Rules will stay in place for travellers to take Covid tests before and after their return.
Committed to safe travel
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says: “We are committed to opening up international travel safely, taking advantage of the gains we’ve made through our successful vaccination programme, helping connect families, friends and businesses around the world”.
He adds that the government are “not asking people to do anything different from what’s been happening in Spain”. The rules are not changing, as “virtually everyone is taking a PCR” to meet performance requirements for the pre-departure test.
In regards to the 5,000-6,000 British holidaymakers currently in Mexico, he says they are “making arrangements to come home”. If they don’t arrive back by the 04:00 BST deadline on Sunday they will have to pay for hotel quarantine.
British Airways are “working through the night to arrange as many additional seats out of Mexico as possible to help get Britons home” before the new rules start. They say customers can re-book their flights before the deadline “at no additional cost”. British Airways Holidays will “automatically refund any customer with a booking to Mexico in the next four weeks”.
The UK government are responsible for setting the red, amber and green lists for England, but the devolved nations are all in charge of their own rules. While Scotland and Northern Ireland confirm they will adopt the same changes as England, the Welsh government criticises the “ad-hoc nature” of the travel decisions. They will consider following the latest changes, but “continue to advise against all but essential travel abroad because of the continuing risk of infection”.
It is also worth remembering that other countries in the world have their own rules about allowing visitors to enter. Featuring on a UK list does not guarantee travellers can visit there.
Quarantine hotels
Anyone who has visited a red list country in the past 10 days must stay at an approved quarantine hotel. They can only enter the UK if they are a UK or Irish national or resident.
From 12 August, the cost of staying at one of those hotels is increasing from £1,750 to £2,285 for a single adult, with a second adult paying £1,430. This price includes transportation to the hotel, security, welfare services, and PCR tests for the second and eighth day. The government argue that the new price better reflects the costs involved. Prices for children will not change, with 5-12 year olds costing £325, and those under 5 staying for free.
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